Screening check
Should I be screened for an eating disorder?
Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder can affect the whole body. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at whether people 10 and older with no signs should be screened. Check what it says for you.
About you
This is not a test for an eating disorder. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
What you will see
What the USPSTF says about eating disorder screening for you.
Educational only, not medical advice. This cannot diagnose an eating disorder. If you are worried, talk to a clinician.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, March 2022 recommendation on screening for eating disorders in adolescents and adults. It is the current statement.
Validated in
Adolescents and adults 10 years or older with no signs or symptoms of an eating disorder.
Limits
It is not a screening questionnaire and cannot diagnose an eating disorder. It does not cover people with signs or symptoms.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents and adults 10 and older without signs or symptoms | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for eating disorders | I |
This was the USPSTF's first recommendation on the topic. It does not apply to people with signs or symptoms such as rapid weight loss, weight gain or a marked change from a child's growth pattern, delayed puberty, a slow heart rate, or infrequent or absent periods (USPSTF 2022). Clinicians are asked to know the risk factors and signs, listen to any patient concerns about eating, make sure people who need help get it, and base any decision to screen on each person's risk and circumstances (USPSTF 2022).
Why it matters
Eating disorders can affect many organ systems, including the heart, bones and muscles, hormones and gut, and are linked to other psychiatric conditions. People with eating disorders have higher death rates than the general population (USPSTF 2022). In large US studies, estimated lifetime prevalence in adult women was 1.42% for anorexia nervosa, 0.46% for bulimia nervosa and 1.25% for binge eating disorder, and lower in men. Prevalence in adolescents ranges from 0.3% to 2.3% in females and 0.3% to 1.3% in males (USPSTF 2022). US prevalence has not been well studied and may be underestimated (USPSTF 2022).
Why the evidence falls short
There was adequate evidence on the accuracy of one questionnaire, the SCOFF, in adult women, but not in adolescents, men or other groups (USPSTF 2022). No studies directly tested whether screening improves health, and no treatment trials enrolled people found by screening in primary care (USPSTF 2022). Possible harms of screening include false-positive results that lead to unnecessary referrals, treatment, labeling, anxiety and stigma (USPSTF 2022).
Common questions
Who is at higher risk?
Risk factors include trauma, childhood adversity, perfectionism, rigidity and social pressure about appearance. Athletes, females and younger adults (18 to 29) are at higher risk, as are transgender adolescents and young adults and people with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use or anxiety disorders. Genetics may also play a part in anorexia and bulimia (USPSTF 2022).
Does a normal weight mean no eating disorder?
Not necessarily. Weight, height and BMI checks are standard in primary care and can pick up some eating disorders through changes in growth or weight (USPSTF 2022), but bulimia and binge eating disorder are defined by behaviors such as binge episodes and vomiting or laxative use, not by low weight (USPSTF 2022).
Also see the depression screening (PHQ-9), the anxiety screening (GAD-7) and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2022;327(11):1061-1067. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-eating-disorders-adolescents-adults
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call, text or chat 988; available 24/7, free and confidential. 988lifeline.org/
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.